The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-28

further astern SO far as that rig is concerned.
than they were in 1872 Since then the only
schooner of note which the British have turned
out, is the Miranda, now owned in this country:
while the Americans have built the Intrepid and
Fortuna, of the keels, and the Montauk, Gray
ling and Sachem, of the centreboards The
English then began vigorous attempt to i'm
prove the cutter. The best Informed among
them saw that in the matter OF sticked vessels,
the Americans were very weak and vulnerable,
and had they made their attack in time, there
can be doubt but that they would have cap
tured the cup Had the Vanduara been sent IN
stead of the Madee. most yachting men now al
init she would have carried the cup hons with
her. There was very great contempt for the cut
tiers here; they were SO extremely different from
the ordinary sloop. so apparently uncomfortable,
unsui,ed to American harbors. Had the V an
6uara or any other of the large cutters come at
that time a new sloop would probably have
been built to meet her. The open handed nag
officers of the New York Club are always ready
to ''chp i'm and build a cup-defender, but the
one then built would inevitably have been
sloop of the Oracle or Pocahontas type. and she
would have been beaten. When the Madge
came two things were apparent. one that in rig
and sit of canvas the British were superior. and
the other was that the narrow boat could sail,
and sail fast. The cutters Oriva and Bedcuin,
built here from British designs. still further
illustrated the fact, and the cuttah," as she mad
been termed in derision. began to be spoken OF
respectfully
When the challenges of the Genesta and Ga
latea were received it was admitted on all sides
that the advocates of the centreboard had got to
premacy as to speed in the yachting of the
world. There had been some sideshows in the
shape OF a couple of challenges from Canada,
bnt the yachts were copies-and poor ones at
that-of the American centerboard, and victory
or defeat by them meant nothing. With the
Genesta and Galatea, however, it was different
matter. They represented a radically different
type of yacht and their defeat meant the
abandonment of the silly idea that they were
fast because they were narrow. It Is not neces-
sary to refer to their contests in detai they are
fresh in the mind of almost every
American from Maine to Texas The neces-
adoption of much in shape and rig that had been
common in British waters for years, and there
was evolved new principle, the combination or
keel and cen treboard, which up to this time has
hardly any other respect does the Thistle differ
from the Volunteer. In rig they are the same,
and although there is difference in the beams,
the American yacht being three feet the widest,
the real radical diffe renee is the board, and the
contests of this week are to show whether or
not British designers will adopt the board
American yachtsmeD must use 1t, on account or
the shallow nature of most of the harbors. and
it is thought by many that the highest speed
cannot be obtained unless it ia used.
This is the real contest of the week. All ad
NIT that the board is an intolerable nuisance, to
be dispensed with if possible. The keel boat
can be built stroD ger and with better accommo-
dations below. The board is very frequently
broken in performing it's service of warning.
Each time that the vessel IS locked it has to be
unshipped and hung over the side. Should the
Thistle win the cup yachting men say it will
mark another revolution in the fashion OF yachts
their sloops, SO iii turn the American yachtsmen
will go for the British through their schoc -ers.
If the cup goes to the Clyde Yankee schooner
will after it. There would, it is said. be little
sense in sending a sloop for only a larger than
the Volunte could hope for success, and such
a one would be unwieldy for an ocean trip.